When we first got to Crystals at CityCenter, I got distracted by luxury brands calling my name to spend $$$$ on materialistic items that I don't need, but the group's stomachs brought me back to reality. Food comes first, naturally. Shopping can wait. We were extremely lucky to have been seated at a long round table that was located off to the side, isolated from the rest of the restaurant and bar area. No reservations, yet we got our very own private dining area to enjoy a fabulous lunch. Again, we're just a lucky bunch. The service was superb, waiter looked out for each and every one of us, the food was amazing, and even the bathrooms were a wonderful experience!
For starters, we ordered...
*Calamari "Fritto", Garlic Aioli, Lemon, Paprika
*Tomato Bruschetta, Basil, Parmesan
*Steamed Mussels, Chorizo, Marjoram, Grilled Ciabatta
I highly recommend all three appetizers, best of each I've ever had. The calamari was lightly battered/fried, not greasy by any means, nor chewy/tough. So what happens when you dip the perfect calamari in the most delightful garlic aoili? You get a match made in heaven. If you've ever had a bad calamari experience, this will convert you. I always hesitate when ordering bruschetta because in previous experiences, they've been too small, bread rock hard, too few chunks of mushy tomatoes... but what I've captured (above) obviously shows the opposite. The tomato bruschetta was lightly toasted and adorned with loads of tomato chunks & cheese in every bite! As for the mussels, no words can really describe how the meat just melted in our mouths. It was lovely. Everyone loved the sauce at the bottom of the pan as well, great for dipping complimentary bread!
Next are the salads for those who eat lightly. The Caprese and Asparagus salads were both beautiful (sucker for presentation) and delicious. I ordered the Caprese salad and as a tomato lover, my tastebuds almost jumped onto the plate when I saw how big they were! The heirloom tomatoes were large enough to share, were so juicy & flavorful, and couldn't have been complete without the soft mozzarella that sat on top. The Asparagus salad seemed more like a starter than an actual meal, even for lunch, not too much food on the plate.
Caprese Salad
*Asparagus Salad, Parmesan Panna Cotta, Proscuitto
The rest of the group ordered various pizzas for everyone to have a little taste. They were more satisfying for the stomach compared to the salads (above) and were just the perfect amount for sharing (swapping pizza slices). My favorite had to be the Mushroom, but I'm biased since I enjoy eating fungus. The Duck Confit was a close second favorite as the taste was very unique, a special surprise unlike the other classic pizzas on the table. Having said that, I do wish the other pizzas had more unique flavors, but maybe some people like to stick with the classics. To each their own.
Duck Confit Pizza
Mushroom Pizza (*Bechamel, Fontina Cheese, Thyme, Arugula)
Proscuitto Pizza (*Basil Pesto, Kalamata Olives, Parmesan)
Margherita Pizza (*Mozzarella, Tomato Sauce, Basil, Parmesan )
Finally, we arrive at the sweetest part of this dining experience, the desserts. Of course, I shouted tiramisu when I saw it on the menu before we even ordered the main meal! Sadly, it was not real tiramisu, but a modern version of it with chocolate chips mixed in. It was a different twist on tiramisu, but in a good way. The Italian Doughnuts were little bites of absolute goodness! The insides of each were so fluffy and warm, but once it is dipped in the caramel & gelato, your tastebuds will go insane because of the warm, cold, sweet, salty explosion in your mouth! If you dine here with a party of six, and only choose one dessert (not possible but let's pretend), these doughnuts are perfect as you each get one. And then there was the Hazelnut Mousse, which was not too memorable compared to the first two.
Tiramisu
*Italian Doughnuts "Zeppole", Caramel Dipping Sauce, Vanilla Gelato
*Chocolate Glazed Hazelnut Mousse, Frangelico Cream, Chocolate Shortbread
3720 Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV
$$
Overall Group Grade: A-
The average rating among my gluttonous friends on this wonderful Sunday lunch in Vegas
The average rating among my gluttonous friends on this wonderful Sunday lunch in Vegas
*Descriptions taken from Wolfgang Puck Pizzeria & Cucina's website
Welcome back! LOVE Vegas and isn't the food amazing? Well the whole experience is amazing and larger than live isn't it? Your brunch looked amazing and I love all the appetizers! I did visit our Chicago Chinatown and only saw the traditional red qipao that was on the 'chincey' side if you know what I mean. Not sure if we have a custom tailor shop to make these beautiful dresses...we'll see :)
ReplyDeleteThanks B! The food was amazing in Vegas! I can't wait to post more about my trip... you will die when you see all the food we ate at the Bellagio! And all the desserts we DIDN'T EAT. lol.
DeleteYeah, I know what you mean =P I actually got mine custom made over the phone! My aunt was in China for a bit and I gave her my bust, waist, hip, butt measurements, and it fit perfectly when she came home with it... hope you can get one custom made to your liking, that would be nice! Happy belated Lunar New Year!